Content: 

Through the entirety of this project, I learned many new aspects surrounding education and the access that different areas and income levels have. Student success is soley based just on how they are taught or what income level they come from rather more components play into their success like total engagement, teacher's ability to effectively teach,  access to resources,  and oppurtunities for hands on learning. However, a large issue that was very prevelant within the entirity of this research was the lack of funding for teachers which prevented them from being able to integrate more expierments, fields trips, activities, and more. From this, a greater issue was presetned as the state hasn't provided adequte funds to many teachers which leaves them at a major disagvantged. This opens the converstation for more research to be done to emphaizse the needed change within the system's funding to better support teachers which can later help students. 

Product: 

I was able to gain a new understanding of the education system and the disparities that are prevalent in the education system. Depending on the area, students struggle within science due to special circumstances like dual language or little parental support. Additionally, teachers struggle teaching science when they don't have finical support from either the district or the school and when they don't have enough district curriculum to support their lessons. My presentation allowed an open discussion in understanding how all of these differing factors can have an impact on one another and later cause lower student proficiency. The presentation allowed me to organize my data to see the real world implication like providing more support for teacher, increasing resources for lower income areas, allowing students to have more active engagement in lessons, and continuing to develop science education in the fifth grade. This reveals the necessity to change the way funding is calculated for the state of Colorado to ensure equal opportunities are provided for all different students and teachers. 

Process: 

From this project, I was able to reflect on who I am as a person and a researcher. I discovered my love to getting involved in my community and staying engaged on issues that can hurt certain groups. This research allowed me to hear first hand from teachers throughout the state what struggles they were facing and what change they want to see which allowed me to gain new perspectives on educators and understand the importance of this topic. As a researcher, I was able to understand what environments I work best in and how I can stay motivated in new spaces. I learned that I work best when I find a new space to work in and stay away from any distraction. I also work best when I find work that I'm interested in, like science or elementary education, which allowed me to want to work hard. I also learned that staying motivated has to come from within so finding the why to my research was so important. The why was understanding that education is so important and building the critical skills needed to later apply in life is essential that all students have equal opportunities to do so. I will carry the lesson of working hard and self motivation as I move towards college. I will also carry the skills that I learned as a researcher as I continue to do more undergraduate research and work to stay engaged in my community and prevalent issues.